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Clarify Executive Order 20-07 so leave policies for constitutional officers are in line with those instituted for the rest of the state government (Executive Order 20-21)

Provide emergency relief for drivers hauling livestock by suspending some weight restrictions and hours of service restrictions (Executive Order 20-24)

Let the state auditor work with local governments to change reporting deadlines for financial reports (Executive Order 20-22)

Both of the most recently reported deaths and three of the four total deaths were residents of long-term care facility settings, Walz and Director of Infectious Disease Kris Ehresmann said during a media conference call Friday. All of the deaths were individuals in their 80s, Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said.

"As we expected, we have started to see COVID-19 cases in residents of congregate living," Ehresmann said.

There were 17 congregate care sites — residential care facilities — in Minnesota with at least one case of COVID-19 as of Friday, Ehresmann said. Most of these facilities have "a handful of cases," with four cases at one facility being the highest.

MDH has been working with congregate care facilities before and after cases are identified. The department conducts weekly calls with long-term care and congregate living facilities and provides weekly updates on health regulations, visitation restrictions, infection prevention activities and more. The department also calls leading care providers for older adults three times a week, Ehresmann said.

MDH has developed a process for investigating an outbreak, which, in a congregate care facility, is defined as one case of either a care worker or resident. The infection prevention team does virtual assessments and works with the facility's team, Ehresmann said.

A shortage of personal protective equipment continues to be a problem, Ehresmann said. The department would like all staff at congregate care facilities to wear surgical masks before any cases are identified at a facility.

"This is source control," Ehresmann said, and a way to minimize the chance of spread from a worker to the patient.

Unemployment claims pass 204,000

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove said Friday Minnesota is seeing massive numbers of people seeking unemployment insurance.

"We were ahead of the curve on this one," he said.

The state has seen more unemployment insurance applications since March 16 than it did in all of 2019, Grove said.

"This is an unprecedented volume," he said. Over 204,000 unemployment insurance applications had been received as of Friday afternoon, and Grove said he expected to have more than 220,000 by the end of the day.

He asked for people to be patient as workers try to process applications.

Walz said more than 659 state employees have been re-assigned to new places and tasks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also up is the number of 911 calls with non-emergency questions about executive orders, particularly the one signed Wednesday asking Minnesotans to stay home, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Joe Kelly said.

"Instead of calling 911, visit the available websites" or call the state's information lines, he said.

Walz shows no symptoms

Since Jan. 20, 51 COVID-19 cases required hospitalization. As of Friday, 34 people were still hospitalized and 14 of those people were in intensive care.

"We still have a relatively modest number of hospitalized cases, but growing quickly," Malcolm said.

The health department said 180 patients no longer need to be isolated.

Kelly said a planning team visited two facilities that could be used as care sites for non-critical patients. Walz said alternative sites will be put up.

"We're working to build out that hospital capacity," he said.

The state is also working on increasing its access to ventilators. Minnesota has 1,268 adult ventilators now, he said.

"Rest assured that process is moving forward," Kelly said.

The health department said 180 patients no longer need to be isolated.

It has been one week since the governor's exposure, and Walz said Friday he has not experienced any symptoms. He did not get tested because that is the recommended protocol.

Of the 40 counties reporting cases, four reported their first cases Friday: Beltrami, Faribault, Lincoln and Mahnomen counties.

Stearns and Wright counties both have five cases, while Sherburne County has three and Benton County has one.